Grenades found in Shelby Township dated to World Wars

One of three hand grenades discovered in a Salvation Army drop box over the weekend dated to World War I, and at least one of the three may have been capable of detonating, police said Tuesday.

Shelby Township police Chief Roland Woelkers said his department is still looking for whoever placed the explosives in a collection box at the Salvation Army store near 23 Mile Road and Van Dyke.

Woelkers said experts from the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad identified one of the grenades as a Japanese mortar; the second was World War II vintage; and the third was a World War I-era device.

The police chief said the experts told him one of the three grenades “potentially” could have exploded while the other two were unlikely to detonate. Bomb experts took possession of the explosives for proper disposal.

A Salvation Army store employee discovered the grenades shortly before 1 p.m. Monday. Police and firefighters were summoned, and as a precaution, several business in the area were evacuated.

Authorities cautioned residents that many munitions kept as souvenirs by returning U.S. military personnel may still contain explosive material. If such a device is located, it should not be moved and authorities should be contacted.

Persons with information about the hand grenades found in Shelby Township are asked to contact the police department at (586) 731-2121.